ABB signs Mike Wilson to its robotics team

ABB’s robotics business has signed Mike Wilson as its new General Industry Sales Manager for the UK and Ireland. Mike is tasked with growing and managing sales of ABB’s robots and robot systems for non-automotive applications, such as mechanical engineering, electrical & electronics, aerospace, pharmaceutical and medical.

Mike is a well-known figure in the world of automation and brings over 30 years of experience in industrial automation, encompassing robots and other types of automated machinery, both as a user and supplier.

He continues to be involved with several of the leading UK bodies in industrial automation, with current roles including Chairman of the British Automation and Robot Association (BARA), Vice-chairman of the Engineering and Machinery Alliance (EAMA) and a Director of the Processing and Packaging Machinery Association (PPMA).

Mike also served as the Chairman of the International Federation of Robotics (IFR) between 2000 and 2003, the only chairman to have ever been elected for two consecutive terms, and currently represents the UK on the IFR General Assembly.

Says Mike: “I firmly believe that robots and automation present the best way forward for the future prosperity and growth of UK manufacturing.

The more forward-thinking UK companies that have already applied automation solutions, including robot and vision technologies, are now reaping the benefits of improved productivity throughout their operations. For companies both large and small manufacturing a diverse range of products, these benefits have led to reduced costs, improved competitiveness and greater profitability, helping to drive business growth.

The latest set of figures from the International Federation of Robotics show that British companies are now waking up to the benefits or robotic automation. Last year, over 1,500 robots were installed in UK factories, with another 2,000 sold in the first half of this year alone.

However, with the majority of these sales going to the automotive sector, there is still much work to do in promoting the automation message to the rest of UK industry and demonstrating how the technology can help companies to catch up with their overseas competitors.

My aim is to make sure that the use of robots continues to grow in the UK and to achieve the same levels of explosive growth in other industrial sectors as has been seen in the automotive sector.”